Cycling in Australia and Japan: some preliminary perspectives

Abstract

This brief paper contributes to ongoing dialogue around arresting the stagnation and in some cases decline in cycling in Australian cities by looking to Japan, a nation that has achieved comparatively high levels of cycling without large-scale infrastructure investments. We review the historical evolution of cycling in both nations, considering the role of the bicycle in both societies, trends in ownership and usage, other transport modes, cycling environment, safety trends, and rules and regulations. The paper is the initial part of an ongoing collaboration around cycling policies between the University of Sydney and Nagoya University.